Matchups: Thunder’s parts create a greater whole than Rockets

The Rockets will have their hands full with the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

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Omer Asik and Kendrick Perkins excel at protecting the lane, though Perkins’ strength in one-on-one matchups won’t come up almost at all in a series against the Rockets. Asik has become vital to the Rockets by controlling the paint and defensive boards and triggering their break. He finished the season third in the NBA in rebounding per game. Though Asik is rarely used as a scorer in the low post, he has been more of a threat as a pick-and-roll finisher, averaging 10.1 points per game, a role he will have to play against Oklahoma City’s outstanding help defense. He had 33 double-doubles this season after getting one in his previous two seasons in the NBA.

Power forward

Serge Ibaka brings a shot-blocking ability that no one in the series comes close to matching, leading the NBA with 3.03 per game. But he has become a much more well-rounded forward, capable of knocking down mid-range shots as a pick-and-pop option setting screens for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He made 57.3 percent of his shots this season. Ibaka is especially effective in Oklahoma City’s hard traps on screens, capable of being disruptive on the perimeter and still getting back inside. The Rockets’ Greg Smith played just two minutes next to Asik in the three games against the Thunder. His strength defensively is in one-on-one matchups inside, but he won’t be in those situations often. The Rockets could use Smith as a post-up threat offensively to keep Ibaka at home and prevent him from roaming as a weak-side shot-blocker.

Small forward

Chandler Parsons moved into the starting lineup as a rookie specifically to match up against Kevin Durant. Parsons has the combination of length and quickness needed to have a chance against Durant, and he will seek to take advantage of the Thunder’s emphasis on Durant on the offensive end by beating him down the floor on breaks the other way. Parsons, the Rockets’ second-leading rebounder and scorer, had 22 games scoring at least 20 points. Durant has typically gotten his numbers against the Rockets, but in several games, he has misfired down the stretch. A three-time NBA scoring champion, Durant was second to Carmelo Anthony this season, averaging 28.1 points.

Shooting guard

The Thunder will put their top perimeter defender, Thabo Sefolosha, on James Harden, but also give him tons of help, especially in pick-and-roll action. Harden has struggled and excelled against his former team, shooting just 9-of-34 in the first two games against the Thunder before scoring a career-high 46 in the victory at Toyota Center when he made 14 of 19 shots including going 7-of-8 on 3-pointers. Harden has struggled recently, shooting a combined 39 percent in March and April. Harden averaged 25.9 points per game, the most by a Rockets player since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995-96. Harden has been the second-most effective ballhandler in the NBA in pick-and-roll offense, but Oklahoma City is among the league’s best pick-and-roll defensive teams.

Point guard

Jeremy Lin has made 48.6 percent of his shots against the Thunder, averaging 14 points per game. The challenge has been on the other end, where Russell Westbrook was sixth in scoring in the NBA, averaging 23.4 points this season, including 23.3 points and 7.7 assists against the Rockets. The season began with a preseason game in which Westbrook repeatedly and easily posted up Lin inside, but Lin did a much better job in the matchups during the season. Still, Lin’s strengths defensively are in help defense and rotating. He struggles in isolation situations, which are Westbrook’s strength. Lin remains one of the league’s more effective point guards in pick-and-roll and on the break and will need to get touches on Westbrook in those situations.

Bench

Kevin Martin has had an outstanding season off the Oklahoma City bench, making up for much of the scoring, if not the playmaking, lost when the Thunder sent Harden to the Rockets. Nick Collison has been a force on the offensive boards and as a threat in pick-and-roll. Reggie Jackson has emerged as a solid option at point guard while splitting the position with veteran Derek Fisher. The Rockets’ bench has been more inconsistent. The Rockets will need the perimeter shooting of Carlos Delfino, especially on the weak side. The Rockets also could use Delfino in small lineups against the Thunder as they did in the win in Houston to move Ibaka out of the lane and create spacing. Patrick Beverley could be used to defend Westbrook.

Coach

Scott Brooks’ success with the Thunder is often overlooked, but Oklahoma City has improved every season since he took over for P.J. Carlesimo when the Thunder were 1-12 in the 2008-09 season. They have gone from a first-round matchup with top-seeded Los Angeles in 2010, to the Western Conference finals against Dallas in 2011 and to the NBA Finals against Miami last season. The Thunder are the Western Conference’s top seed with the league’s best point differential. Coach Kevin McHale has guided the Rockets through a dramatic transformation with only one player, Parsons, on the team from the start of his first season to the start of his second season in Houston. He also has retooled the Rockets’ style, making them the NBA’s fastest-paced team. The league’s youngest and least-experienced team, the Rockets are in the postseason for the first time since 2008-09.

Prediction: Thunder in five games.

How will the Rockets fare in their first round series against the Thunder?

The Rockets will try to become the sixth team to win an NBA playoff series as a No. 8 seed over a No. 1.

The Rockets will try to become the sixth team to win an NBA playoff series as a No. 8 seed over a No. 1.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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<strong><center>1994: No. 8 Denver over No. 1 Seattle</strong></center><br>
One of the footnotes in the Rockets first NBA title. The Nuggets win over Seattle in Game 5 (first round series were best-of-five then) knocked out one of the Rockets’ nemesis from the playoffs. The Nuggets, led by Dikembe Mutombo, took Utah to seven games in round two before falling. The Rockets then dispatched the Jazz to reach the NBA Finals. less

<strong><center>1994: No. 8 Denver over No. 1 Seattle</strong></center><br>
One of the footnotes in the Rockets first NBA title. The Nuggets win over Seattle in Game 5 (first round series were best-of-five ... more

Photo: Gary Stewart / Associated Press

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<strong><center>1999: No. 8 New York over No. 1 Miami</strong></center><br>
Allan Houston won the deciding Game 5 for the Knicks with a running one-hander with 0.8 seconds left. The shot bounced off the backboard and the rim before falling through to give New York the win. The Knicks went on to reach the NBA Finals where they fell to San Antonio in five games. less

<strong><center>1999: No. 8 New York over No. 1 Miami</strong></center><br>
Allan Houston won the deciding Game 5 for the Knicks with a running one-hander with 0.8 seconds left. The shot bounced off the ... more

Photo: Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

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<strong><center>2007: No. 8 Golden State over No. 1 Dallas</strong></center><br>
The Warriors became the first No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 in a seven-game series. The Mavericks had won a franchise record 67 games and were the defending Western Conference champions but fell in Game 6, 111-86. Baron Davis, hobbled by a hamstring, scored 20 points, and Stephen Jackson added 33. If the Rockets had been able to beat the Jazz in their Game 7, they would have faced the Warriors in the second round. less

<strong><center>2007: No. 8 Golden State over No. 1 Dallas</strong></center><br>
The Warriors became the first No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 in a seven-game series. The Mavericks had won a franchise record ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press

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<strong><center>2011: No. 8 Memphis over No. 1 San Antonio</strong></center><br>
The Grizzlies had won three of four over the Spurs in the regular season but it was still a surprise to see the 61-win Spurs go out in six games. Zach Randolph had 17 of the Grizzlies’ 19 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 31. Memphis gave Oklahoma City a scare in the second round before falling in seven games. less

<strong><center>2011: No. 8 Memphis over No. 1 San Antonio</strong></center><br>
The Grizzlies had won three of four over the Spurs in the regular season but it was still a surprise to see the 61-win Spurs go ... more

Photo: Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

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<strong><center>2012: No. 8 Philadelphia over No. 1 Chicago</strong></center><br>
The series turned in Game 1 when the Bulls’ Derrick Rose injured his knee and was gone for good. The Bulls still had a chance but then lost Joakim Noah to injury in Game 4. The Sixers finally got the series in Game 6 at home when Andre Iguodola hit the game-winner with 2.2 seconds left. less

<strong><center>2012: No. 8 Philadelphia over No. 1 Chicago</strong></center><br>
The series turned in Game 1 when the Bulls’ Derrick Rose injured his knee and was gone for good. The Bulls still had a ... more